PITTSBURGH, PA- A former resident of Canonsburg, Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty in federal court to possession of child pornography, United States Attorney Scott W. Brady announced today.

Kevin Francisco Torres-Gerena, 26, pleaded guilty to one count before United States District Judge Nora Barry Fischer.

In connection with the guilty plea, the court was advised that investigative efforts in connection with a Homeland Security investigation revealed that Torres-Gerena was the subscriber of an IP address associated with successful downloads of child pornography from an electronic device using that IP address.  The court was further informed that law enforcement officials executed a federal search warrant at Torres-Gerena’s residence on September 5, 2018, and later uncovered, during forensic review of the electronic devices seized during the execution of the search warrant, 116 videos and 36 images depicting the sexual exploitation of minors, many of which involved children under the age of twelve.

Judge Fischer scheduled sentencing for May 28, 2020 at 9:30 AM.  The law provides for a total sentence of not more than 20 years in prison, a fine of not more than $250,000, or both.  Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed is based upon the seriousness of the offense and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.  The defendant remains on bond pending the sentencing hearing.

Assistant United States Attorney Rebecca L. Silinski is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.

Homeland Security Investigations, with the assistance of the Federal Bureau of Investigations San Antonio Field Office, the North Strabane Police Department and the Canonsburg Police Department, conducted the investigation leading to the prosecution of Torres-Gerena.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals, who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.